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Contact with children placed in OoHC

Follow this procedure when conducting a national police history check on a person wishing to have contact with a child placed in out-of-home care.

Introduction

Only persons allowed contact by a Children’s Court order or approved by child protection may have contact with a child in out-of-home care. See Contact.

Prior to a decision that a person not specified on a Children’s Court order may have contact with a child in out-of-home care, an assessment of the person’s suitability to have contact with the child is required.

This procedure is followed where it is determined that a national police history check is required as part of an assessment of a person’s suitability to have contact with a child in out-of-home care.

A national police history check may form part of the assessment as to whether a person may have contact with a child.

The consent of the individual seeking contact with the child is required. If it is determined that a national police history check is required and consent is not provided, the assessment of contact suitability will not proceed.

Procedure

Case practitioner tasks

Obtain the person’s written consent to a national police history check.

Sight photographic identification and confirm their identity and date of birth.

If the person refuses consent to the national police history check or fails to provide adequate identification documentation, their request for contact is declined.

Undertake the national police history check for the person seeking access.

Record actions, decisions and rationales in CRIS.

Supervisor tasks

Decide if a national police history check is required as part of an assessment of a person’s suitability to have contact.

Team manager tasks

Determine whether the person is approved to have contact in cases where a national police history check reveals disclosable matters.